Illuminated high-visibility safety vest

Abstract

A high visibility safety vest assembly includes first and second elongated illumination assemblies positioned on a front portion of a vest, and third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies positioned on a rear portion of the vest. The vest includes a material layer. A high visibility safety vest assembly also includes a power supply having a rechargeable battery and supported by the vest. A control device is electrically coupled with the power supply and each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies. The control device is configured to selectively facilitate provision of electrical power from the power supply to the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies. The first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are positioned such that, when the vest is donned by a person standing upright, each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are generally vertically oriented.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A high visibility safety vest assembly comprising:
 a vest comprising a material layer; 
 first and second elongated illumination assemblies each being positioned on a front portion of the vest; 
 third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies each being positioned on a rear portion of the vest; 
 a power supply comprising a rechargeable battery and supported by the vest; and 
 a control device electrically coupled with the power supply and each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies, wherein the control device is configured to selectively facilitate provision of electrical power from the power supply to the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies; wherein 
 the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are positioned such that, when the vest is donned by a person standing upright, each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are generally vertically oriented; and 
 the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are each mounted to an inside surface of the material layer of the vest, such that high-intensity illumination generated by the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies is viewable through the material layer of the vest. 
 
     
     
       2. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the material layer is a first color; 
 each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are configured to emit white light; and 
 as a result of passing through the material layer, the illumination of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies provides to observers a hue corresponding with the first color. 
 
     
     
       3. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 2  wherein the hue contrasts with other typical emergency lighting, to facilitate increased visibility of the safety vest. 
     
     
       4. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 3  wherein the hue is green. 
     
     
       5. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 1  further comprising reflective portions attached to the vest. 
     
     
       6. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 5  wherein the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are positioned to be generally parallel with the reflective portions. 
     
     
       7. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the vest comprises a pocket; and 
 the power supply is at least partially disposed within the pocket. 
 
     
     
       8. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 1  wherein the control device is configured to facilitate selection by a person from among a plurality of different illumination settings comprising at least two of a low setting, a high setting, and a flashing setting. 
     
     
       9. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 8  wherein the control device comprises a dimmer switch. 
     
     
       10. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 1  wherein the material layer comprises a polyester mesh. 
     
     
       11. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies comprises, respectively:
 a lighting strip; 
 a plurality of LEDs attached to the lighting strip in a linear arrangement; and 
 a diffuser configured to diffuse light generated by the plurality of LEDs. 
 
     
     
       12. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 11  wherein the LEDs are generally evenly spaced from one another along the lighting strip. 
     
     
       13. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 11  wherein the diffuser has a width and length that generally correspond with a width and length of the lighting strip. 
     
     
       14. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 11  wherein the LEDs are ultra-bright, high-intensity LEDs that have a light efficiency of about 120 to about 130 lm/w, a color temperature of about 6500K, and a working voltage of about 12 VDC. 
     
     
       15. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 12  wherein the lighting strip is about 11.5 inches in length, about 0.375 inches in width and supports at least 30 LEDs. 
     
     
       16. A The high visibility safety vest comprising:
 a vest comprising a material layer; 
 first and second elongated illumination assemblies each being positioned on a front portion of the vest; 
 third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies each being positioned on a rear portion of the vest; 
 a power supply comprising a rechargeable battery and supported by the vest; and 
 a control device electrically coupled with the power supply and each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies, wherein the control device is configured to selectively facilitate provision of electrical power from the power supply to the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies; wherein 
 the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are positioned such that, when the vest is donned by a person standing upright, each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies are generally vertically oriented; and 
 each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies comprises, respectively:
 a lighting strip; 
 a plurality of LEDs attached to the lighting strip in a linear arrangement, with the LEDs being generally evenly spaced from one another along the lighting strip; and 
 a diffuser configured to diffuse light generated by the plurality of LEDs; 
 wherein the lighting strip is about 11.5 inches in length, about 0.375 inches in width and supports a total of 36 LEDs. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 11  wherein the diffuser is formed from polycarbonate. 
     
     
       18. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 11  being configured such that, due to close and consistent spacing of the plurality of LEDs and use of the diffuser, for each of the first, second, third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies, an observer will view a solid bar of bright light when the LEDs are illuminated. 
     
     
       19. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 1  wherein all components thereof are configured to allow prolonged operation thereof when worn in adverse weather conditions. 
     
     
       20. The high visibility safety vest assembly of  claim 1  wherein the LEDs have a working voltage of about 12 VDC.